Syntrophin mutation associated with long QT syndrome through activation of the nNOS-SCN5A macromolecular complex

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jul 8;105(27):9355-60. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0801294105. Epub 2008 Jun 30.

Abstract

Mutations in 11 genes that encode ion channels or their associated proteins cause inherited long QT syndrome (LQTS) and account for approximately 75-80% of cases (LQT1-11). Direct sequencing of SNTA1, the gene encoding alpha1-syntrophin, was performed in a cohort of LQTS patients that were negative for mutations in the 11 known LQTS-susceptibility genes. A missense mutation (A390V-SNTA1) was found in a patient with recurrent syncope and markedly prolonged QT interval (QTc, 530 ms). SNTA1 links neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) to the nNOS inhibitor plasma membrane Ca-ATPase subtype 4b (PMCA4b); SNTA1 also is known to associate with the cardiac sodium channel SCN5A. By using a GST-fusion protein of the C terminus of SCN5A, we showed that WT-SNTA1 interacted with SCN5A, nNOS, and PMCA4b. In contrast, A390V-SNTA1 selectively disrupted association of PMCA4b with this complex and increased direct nitrosylation of SCN5A. A390V-SNTA1 expressed with SCN5A, nNOS, and PMCA4b in heterologous cells increased peak and late sodium current compared with WT-SNTA1, and the increase was partially inhibited by NOS blockers. Expression of A390V-SNTA1 in cardiac myocytes also increased late sodium current. We conclude that the A390V mutation disrupted binding with PMCA4b, released inhibition of nNOS, caused S-nitrosylation of SCN5A, and was associated with increased late sodium current, which is the characteristic biophysical dysfunction for sodium-channel-mediated LQTS (LQT3). These results establish an SNTA1-based nNOS complex attached to SCN5A as a key regulator of sodium current and suggest that SNTA1 be considered a rare LQTS-susceptibility gene.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Cell Line
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Ion Channel Gating
  • Long QT Syndrome / enzymology*
  • Long QT Syndrome / genetics*
  • Macromolecular Substances / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Muscle Proteins / chemistry
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics*
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / metabolism*
  • Plasma Membrane Calcium-Transporting ATPases / metabolism
  • Sodium Channels / chemistry
  • Sodium Channels / metabolism*

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Mutant Proteins
  • NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel
  • SCN5A protein, human
  • Scn5a protein, mouse
  • Sodium Channels
  • syntrophin alpha1
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
  • ATP2B4 protein, human
  • Plasma Membrane Calcium-Transporting ATPases